Mates' surfing odyssey ends in plane crash tragedy

Five young Australians on a surfing safari, including two brothers, are among 17 people missing and feared dead after an aircraft plunged into Manila Bay in the Philippines early yesterday.

A sixth surfer, Steve Thompson, 25, from Sydney, was one of 17 survivors hauled from the sea, but told rescuers he did not know what had happened to his mates.

The Fokker 27 plane with 34 people on board was on a domestic flight to the northern city of Laoag when it crashed soon after take-off at 6.07am local time (9.07am AEST) and immediately began sinking.

Mr Thompson, 25, who escaped with minor injuries, said he saw smoke coming from the plane's left side before the crash.

He said he did not know what had happened to his friends, and began weeping as he spoke with his mother by telephone. The missing brothers are Sam and Tim Coddington, in their early 20s, from Narrabeen.");document.write("

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The Philippines Coast Guard said at least two foreigners were among the dead, but they were not identified, Of the survivors, seven were critically injured.

Mr Thompson said the crashed aircraft filled instantly with water after it plunged into Manila Bay, sinking in about eight to 10 metres of water.

"No one made any noises. I've seen a lot, man. This is one for the record."

Mr Thompson said he saw the smoke and then the pilot came on the intercom to tell passengers to brace for impact.

"The plane took off. It flew for three minutes, and then the engine kind of got quiet," said Mr Thompson, who had bandages on his toes and left arm.

"Then I noticed some smoke coming out of the left engine, and then it banked. Then we ended up down in the water."

Fishing boats rushed to the scene and pulled out a number of survivors.

Australian officials were searching last night for the missing Australians including "trawling the hospitals".

"We have our embassy staff on the ground, pulling together all possible networks to find out how many Australians were on the plane," a Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said.

She said it appeared five people from Sydney and one from Brisbane were aboard.

Joggers who were running along the bay said the plane sounded as if it was having engine trouble as it tried to gain altitude. Amateur video showed the plane slowly descending with smoke coming from the wing.

The chief of air transportation for the Philippines, Adelberto Yap, said the Laoag International Airlines plane broke up on impact. Only small debris, including at least one seat, was strewn on the surface.

A floating crane was brought to the scene in an attempt to raise the wreckage. A navy commander at the site said divers were having trouble because conditions were so murky.

"After going airborne, it ditched," Mr Yap said. "We don't know if it lost power. It looks like the one wing was up in the water."

Other survivors include the pilot, Captain Bernie Crisostomo, and co-pilot Joseph Gardiner, both Filipinos.

The airline's other four Fokker 27 planes were grounded as a precaution.